QUESTION: In patients being treated with antibiotics, does co-administration with probiotics reduce the incidence of diarrhoea?

Data sources

Studies in any language (with English abstracts) were identified by searching Medline (1966–2000) with the terms probiotics,
biotherapeutic agents, lactobacilli, antibiotic associated diarrhoea, and Clostridium difficile; the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register; and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

Study selection

Studies were selected if they were randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trials of probiotic treatment given in combination
with antibiotics and if diarrhoea prevention was reported. Studies of travellers’ diarrhoea and infectious diarrhoea were
excluded.

Data extraction

Data were extracted on sample size; type, dose, and duration of probiotic treatment; and antibiotic studied. The outcome of
interest was prevention of diarrhoea. Diarrhoea was defined as a change from the normal bowel habit …